Page 1 of 1 Ferrari's earliest racers were open-top roadsters, but it was not until the advent of the 250 GT Cabriolet in 1957 that a proper convertible was added to the production program. Soon after, the Convertible was one of the mainstays of the Ferrari line-up. After the production of the Series II 250 GT Cabriolet ceased in 1962, Ferrari customers had to wait two years before a replacement was launched.

After almost ten years of service, the 250 GT was finally replaced in 1964 by the 275 GTB. The stunning Pininfarina styled coupe combined the best cues of previous models with a fresh new styling approach. It was no surprise that the new convertible was based on the 275 GTB. Dubbed the Ferrari 275 GTS for Spyder was quite a departure from the Berlinetta it was based on.

More than anything the 275 GTS resembled the 250 GT Cabriolet it replaced, with open headlights compared to the GTB's characteristic covered lights. Under the Pininfarina styled body it was very similar to its Berlinetta brother. The 275 was the first road-going Ferrari to feature all-round independent suspension, replacing the rear live axle used on all 250 GT models.

Power for the stylish Spyder comes from a 3.3 litre SOHC V12 engine, which pumps out a decent 260 bhp. Compared to the Berlinetta's engine, it is 20 bhp down on power, but with a better low-end torque figure the Spyder is easier to drive. Another 275 'novelty' was the rear-mounted five-speed transaxle. Technically the 275 was a big leap forward, but the looks of the 275 GTS were not to everyone's liking.

Production lasted just two years, with only 200 examples being produced. This was by no means a small figure for any Ferrari convertible of that era. It was replaced by the slightly larger engined 330 GTS, which also featured a sharper nose. The ultimate evolution was the 365 GTS of which just 20 were built in 1969. This would be the last of the volume production Ferrari convertibles until the introduction of the California during the second half of the 2000s. Page 1 of 1